Multiple access satellite communications network
First Claim
1. A shared communication system for communicating between a plurality of independent satellite users and each of their respective orbiting satellites comprising:
- a) a user interface, one for each of the plurality of independent satellite users, accepting user data from one of the plurality of independent satellite users to be transmitted to or accepting user instructions to receive satellite data from a selectable one of the plurality of orbiting satellites;
b) a central controller being coupled to the user interface, receiving the user data to be transmitted or receiving the user instructions to receive the satellite data from the selectable one of the plurality of orbiting satellites, interacting with the one of the plurality of independent satellite users via the user interface to enable the one of the plurality of independent satellite users to control the satellite to which the user data is to be transmitted and/or satellite data is to be received, and to schedule a time at which the user data is to be transmitted and/or satellite data is to be received; and
c) a plurality of remote ground stations, each ground station having;
(i) a remotely transmitter receiving the user data to be transmitted, transmitting the user data to the selectable one of the plurality of orbiting satellites, and (ii) a receiver receiving the satellite data for the one of the plurality of independent satellite users from the selectable one of the plurality of satellites, and communicating the satellite data to the user interface or the central controller, wherein the central controller interacts with the one of the plurality of independent satellite users to control from which of the plurality of remote ground stations the user data is to be transmitted and/or satellite data is to be received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shared single system of ground stations (120) for servicing any number of satellite owners, permits the owners to transfer command information to their satellite (110), and collect data streams that arm sent back from the satellite all via a standardized global communication system maintained and operated by a commercial satellite communications company. A remotely controlled ground station (120) is operated and controlled from a central controller. Each user creates and stores a ground station configuration file at the central controller, which file contains the data necessary to configure the remotely controlled ground station (120) to communicate with the user'"'"'s satellite (110). When the user desires to communicate with the user'"'"'s satellite, the user schedules a communication session with the central controller, which downloads the configuration file to the appropriate ground station. The appropriate ground station is determined based on current orbital characteristics of the satellite in question. A server at the ground station then uses the data in the configuration file to configure equipment at the ground station to communicate with the desired satellite.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A shared communication system for communicating between a plurality of independent satellite users and each of their respective orbiting satellites comprising:
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a) a user interface, one for each of the plurality of independent satellite users, accepting user data from one of the plurality of independent satellite users to be transmitted to or accepting user instructions to receive satellite data from a selectable one of the plurality of orbiting satellites;
b) a central controller being coupled to the user interface, receiving the user data to be transmitted or receiving the user instructions to receive the satellite data from the selectable one of the plurality of orbiting satellites, interacting with the one of the plurality of independent satellite users via the user interface to enable the one of the plurality of independent satellite users to control the satellite to which the user data is to be transmitted and/or satellite data is to be received, and to schedule a time at which the user data is to be transmitted and/or satellite data is to be received; and
c) a plurality of remote ground stations, each ground station having;
(i) a remotely transmitter receiving the user data to be transmitted, transmitting the user data to the selectable one of the plurality of orbiting satellites, and (ii) a receiver receiving the satellite data for the one of the plurality of independent satellite users from the selectable one of the plurality of satellites, and communicating the satellite data to the user interface or the central controller, wherein the central controller interacts with the one of the plurality of independent satellite users to control from which of the plurality of remote ground stations the user data is to be transmitted and/or satellite data is to be received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for communicating data between a user and a satellite via a plurality of remote ground stations comprising the steps of
acquiring identification data from the user, which identification data includes an identification of the satellite with which the user wishes to communicate, and control data to be transmitted to the satellite, if any; -
presenting to the user a list of available time slots and associated remote ground stations for communicating with the identified satellite based on the identification data; and
enabling a user to select an available time slot and an appropriate ground station. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A single command and control center for a plurality of independently launched and operated satellites, said single command and control center interacting with a plurality of users at a plurality of user sites, comprising:
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a) a network management center providing command and control services for all of the plurality of independently launched and operated satellites, receiving user data to be transmitted to the plurality of independently launched and operated satellites and managing requests from the plurality of users for satellite data from the plurality of independently launched and operated satellites;
b) a user interface being disposed at each of the plurality of user sites, enabling a user to interact with the network management center to send user data to a satellite the user desires to communicate with, and to receive satellite data from a satellite the user desires to communicate with; and
c) a plurality of remote ground stations being controlled by the network management center, and transmitting user data to and receiving satellite data from each of the plurality of independently launched and operated satellites. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An apparatus for enabling a user to interact with a network of remotely controlled ground stations communicating with a satellite in orbit, comprising:
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a) a computer having an interface to a network to which the remotely controlled ground station is coupled; and
b) a graphical user interface executing on the computer, and including;
(i) a web browser enabling a user to enter user identification information;
(ii) a first web page enabling a user to specify a satellite access time and a particular remotely controlled ground station from which the user desires to communicate with the satellite in orbit; and
(ii) a second web page enabling a user to specify communication format and protocol information for communicating with the satellite in orbit, which communication format and protocol information is used to configure communication equipment at one of the remotely controlled ground stations. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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Specification